Information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel which displays pieces of identification information including letters, figures, and symbols and detects a contact of the panel with a finger of a user or other object. When the touch panel detects the contact of the panel, a detection unit specifies identification information of one or more of the multiple pieces of identification information displayed on the touch panel, indicated by a position at which the contact in question occurred. The detection unit also detects an area of part of the panel where the contact occurred. A storage unit stores reference identification information and a reference area range. A control unit performs particular processing upon matching of the detected identification information with the stored reference identification information and the area of the contact detected by the detection unit falling within the stored reference area range.

CLAIMS OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from Japanese patent applicationserial no. JP2011-025576, filed on Feb. 9, 2011, the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses.

JP-A-05-100809 discloses art related to the technical field of thepresent invention. The publication describes “An information processingapparatus including a touch panel device at least comprising: a physicaltype of an object; display position information on a display; fileinformation where a status of the object is set; a display informationtable 1 storing display data of the object that includes a name of afile in a normal state and a name of the file in a special state(reversed display); and touch panel information 2 including a touchposition coordinate and touch pressure information. A physical operationdecided by a corresponding relation between physical informationindicated by the display information table 1 and physical informationindicated by the touch panel information 2 is given to the object todisplay it.”

Recently, information processing apparatuses for portable usage havebecome multi-functioned and ease of use thereof is particularlyrequired.

An object of the present invention is to provide an informationprocessing apparatus that offers improved convenience to users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the foregoing problem, an aspect of the present inventionprovides an information processing apparatus comprising: a touch panelwhich displaies a plurality of pieces of identification informationincluding letters, figures, and symbols, and for detecting a contact ofthe panel with a finger of a user or other objects; a detection unit,when the touch panel detects a contact of the panel with the object,which species identification information indicated by a position of thecontact at which the contact in question occurred, of the multiplepieces of identification information displayed on the touch panel, andwhich detects an area of part where the contact occurred; a storage unitwhich stores reference identification information and a reference arearange; a determination unit which determines whether the identificationinformation detected by the detection unit matches the referenceidentification information stored in the storage unit and whether thearea of the contact detected by the detection unit falls within thereference area range stored in the storage unit; and a control unitwhich performs particular processing when the determination unitdetermines that the identification information detected by the detectionunit matches the reference identification information stored in thestorage unit and the area of the contact detected by the detecting unitfalls within the reference area range stored in the storing unit.

By employing such system, an information processing apparatus includinga touch panel can be improved in usability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a user touching a touch panel 1with a finger tip to make an input.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a user touching the touch panel 1with a finger pad to make an input.

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an example of the internalconfiguration of a portable terminal 0 including the touch panel 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a lock cancellation process of theportable terminal 0.

FIG. 4A is an illustration showing a typical screen image displayedduring when the portable terminal 0 is to be unlocked by dragging with afinger tip.

FIG. 4B is an illustration showing a typical screen image displayedduring when the portable terminal 0 is to be unlocked by dragging with afinger pad.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations showing schematically states ofsensors 4 at various timing during lock cancellation.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations showing a method for distinguishingbetween a finger tip flicking and a finger pad tapping.

FIG. 7A is an illustration showing one state during an icon being moved;the state before the move has started.

FIG. 7B is an illustration showing one state during the icon beingmoved; the state when the icon is being moved.

FIG. 7C is an illustration showing one state during the icon beingmoved; the state after the move has finished.

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing schematically the sensors 4 when theicon is moved.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for password registration.

FIG. 10A is an illustration showing a typical screen image displayedduring calibration to prompt the user to make a finger tip contact.

FIG. 10B is an illustration showing a typical screen image displayedduring calibration to prompt the user to make a finger pad contact.

FIG. 11A is an illustration showing a screen that prompts the user toregister a password.

FIG. 11B is an illustration showing a screen displayed during passwordregistration to inform the user that a finger pad input has been made.

FIG. 11C is an illustration showing a screen displayed during passwordregistration to inform the user that a finger tip input has been made.

FIG. 12A is a table showing data composed of a password and acorresponding input method.

FIG. 12B is a table showing data composed of one password and aplurality of corresponding input methods.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for password cancellation.

FIG. 14 is an illustration showing a screen that prompts the user tocancel a password.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[First Embodiment]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations showing methods by which a user makesa desired input in a portable terminal 0 according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention. The portable terminal 0 shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B includes a touch panel 1 having a touch sensor function.FIG. 1A is an image of a user making input by touching the touch panel 1with his or her finger tip. The input using one's finger tip ischaracterized in that an area of contact (hereinafter referred also toas a “contact range”) between the finger of the user and the touch panel1 is small. This operation by the user will hereinafter be referred toas a finger tip input. FIG. 1B schematically shows an image of a usermaking input by touching the touch panel 1 with his or her finger pad.The input using one's finger pad is characterized in that the contactrange of the finger and the touch panel 1 is wider than that of thefinger tip input. This operation by the user will hereinafter bereferred to as a finger pad input.

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a typical internal arrangement of theportable terminal 0. Reference numeral 1 denotes a touch panel thatincludes a group of sensors or a sensor 4, a liquid crystal panel, and aglass panel. When the user's finger contacts with the touch panel,capacitance of the sensor 4 changes and the sensor 4 outputs a signalaccording to the change. The liquid crystal panel displays numerals,letters, and the like. The glass panel is for protecting the sensor 4,etc. Reference numeral 2 denotes a contact range detection unit thatdetects the position and the contact range of a contact based on thesignal output from the sensor 4. Reference numeral 3 denotes a controlunit for controlling elements of the touch panel 1. The control unit 3includes an arithmetic section, a counter, a determination unit whichdetermines condition in accordance with input information into thecontrol unit 3, and a storage unit which stores various types of data.Reference numeral 4 denotes, as mentioned, a group of sensors or asensor whose capacitance varies upon contact with the user's finger.Portions shaded with diagonal lines represent sensors 4 that areresponding to the contact with the finger. The blank portions representsensors 4 that are not contacting with the finger and not responding.Reference numeral 5 denotes a button switch which the user pushes forvarious operations such as standby release or returning, advancing.

The way of calibration and the usage method for cancelling the lock orunlocking the portable terminal 0 according to the first embodiment willbe described below with reference to FIG. 3 showing a flow chart, FIGS.4A and 4B showing lock cancellation display screens, and FIGS. 5A and 5Bshowing states of the sensor 4 at various timing during lockcancellation.

Among types of operation performed by the user on the portable terminal0 are tapping, dragging, flicking, and pinching. Tapping is an operationwhich the user touches one point of the screen with a finger for amoment on the touch panel 1. Dragging is an operation which the usermoves his or her finger over the screen of the touch panel 1 while thefinger is in contact therewith. Flicking is an operation which the userquickly slides his or her finger on the screen of the touch panel 1while touching it. Pinching is an operation which the user touches twopoints of the screen of the touch panel 1 with two fingers and changesthe distance between the two points.

A series of operations from start-up of the portable terminal 0,calibration, and to turn-off of the portable terminal 0 will be nextdescribed. The term calibration used herein refers to an operation ofsetting a threshold value that is used for determining a contact range.

The power of the portable terminal turns on by pressing the buttonswitch for a certain time. Then, the control unit 3 starts a program,adjusts the sensors, initializes the threshold value, and performsinitial settings for screen display and other factors (S1000). After theinitial setting procedure, the control unit 3 performs control todisplay lock cancel screen on the touch panel 1 (S1001). As can be seenin FIG. 4A, a lock cancel icon is present in the lock cancel screenwhich can be dragged in a y direction and a −y direction with a fingertip. The control unit 3 holds until the user drags the lock cancel iconwith a finger tip (S1002).

FIG. 5A is a schematic view showing states of the sensor 4 at varioustiming during when the user drags the icon with a finger tip in the ydirection for unlocking. In FIG. 5A, portions shaded with diagonal linesdenote sensors 4 that are responding to the contact with a user's fingerand portions shaded with horizontal lines denote sensors 4 that haveresponded in previous. The blank portions denote sensors 4 that have notbeen contacted and have not responded. The icon is first touched at timet0, and is dragged at time t1, and the dragging ends at time t2 to thuscancel the lock. The control unit 3 calculates the average value ‘2’ ofthe number of columns of sensors 4 that responded to the contact withthe finger and adds a correction value ‘1’ to the average, therebydefining a threshold value ‘3’. The threshold value is stored in thecontrol unit 3.

FIG. 4B shows another method for unlocking the terminal using the fingerpad input. As can been seen in FIG. 4B, a lock cancel icon is displayedin the lock cancel screen that can be dragged in a y direction and a −ydirection with a finger pad. FIG. 5B is a schematic view showing statesof the sensor 4 at various timing during when the user drags the iconfor cancelling the lock with a finger pad in the y direction forunlocking. The icon is first touched at time t0, then dragged at timet1, and the dragging ends at time t2 to thus cancel the lock. Thecontrol unit 3 calculates the average value ‘4’ of the number of columnsof sensors 4 that responded to the contact with the finger and subtractsa correction value ‘1’ therefrom, thereby defining a threshold value‘3’. The threshold value is stored in the control unit 3.

The threshold value used for determining the contact range is defined asabove by using the average value of the number of columns of sensors 4that responded to the contact with the finger during unlocking (S1003).In other words, the threshold value for determining the contact rangecan be obtained (i.e., calibration can be made), simultaneously withunlocking operation.

The control unit 3 unlocks the portable terminal 0 (S1004) and waitsuntil the user makes various inputs by way of the touch panel 1 (S1005).Receiving an input with a contact range equal to or narrower than thethreshold value (specifically, “3” or less) (S1006), the control unit 3determines that a finger tip input is made (S1007). Receiving an inputwith a contact range wider than the threshold value (specifically, “4”or more) (S1006), the control unit 3 determines that a finger pad inputis made (S1008). After that, various operations are performed followingthe order of the input.

When no input is made for a predetermined period, several minutes forexample, the control unit 3 stores the time and date of calibration, thethreshold value, and other setting values, and then locks the portableterminal 0 (S1009). The control unit 3 displays the lock cancel screen(S1001) when a lock cancel switch assigned to the button switch 5 ispushed (S1010). When the button switch 5 is pressed for a certain timewhile the power of the portable terminal 0 is on, the power turns off.

As described heretofore, regardless of difference with individuals incontact ranges of finger tip input, the calibration allows accuracy ofcontact range determination to be improved. The first embodiment of thepresent invention uses the average of the number of columns of thesensors 4 that responded to the contact with the finger as the thresholdvalue. However, this is not the only possible way for setting thethreshold. For example, the threshold value may be corrected by addingan appropriate value to, or subtracting any value from, the average ofthe number of columns of the sensors 4 that responded to a contact witha finger. The threshold value does not need to be an integer and insteada capacitance value may be used. Further, the threshold value used fordetermining the contact range may be discarded upon locking, andcalibration can be performed to update threshold value every time theterminal is unlocked. Instead of performing calibration upon unlocking,calibration may be performed only at the first time the portableterminal 0 is turned on. It may also be performed by selecting afunction for calibration from a setting menu or the like. Furthermore,the first embodiment of the present invention performed calibration onthe basis of the contact range of either the finger tip input or thefinger pad input. Alternatively, the contact ranges of both the fingertip input and the finger pad input may be obtained to set a plurality ofthreshold values.

A method for distinguishing the finger tip input and the finger padinput will be described in more details below. FIGS. 6A and 6B show amethod for distinguishing flicking by finger tip input and tapping byfinger pad input. FIG. 6A shows conditions of sensors 4 responding to afinger tip flicking in a −x direction. FIG. 6B shows conditions ofsensors 4 responding to a finger pad tapping. At time t00 which is thetime a contact starts, the number of sensors responding to the contactis same in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The control unit 3 stores the time t00 atwhich the contact is started. If the number of sensors responding to thecontact range would not change at the subsequent time t01 and time t02,the control unit 3 determines the contact as a finger tip flicking. Ifthe number of sensors responding increases as time elapses as the timet01 and the time t02, the control unit 3 determines the contact as afinger pad tapping. In brief, the control unit 3 distinguishes thefinger tip flicking and the finger pad tapping by comparing the numberof sensors that responded at the time t00 to the number of sensorsresponding at the time t02. Since the determination is not done at theinstance of a user touching the touch panel 1, a finger pad input willnot be misdetected as a finger tip input even when the initial contactrange is narrow.

A way of moving an icon utilizing the difference between contact rangesof the finger tip input and the finger pad input will be described indetail below. FIGS. 7A to 7C show states of an icon 7 moved rightwardly(in a y direction) by the user using finger tip input and finger padinput. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the sensors 4 that respondedduring the icon movement and the manner of finger movement. Referencenumerals 80 and 82 represent fingers making finger pad input with a widecontact range and reference numeral 81 represents a finger making fingertip input with a narrow contact range. First, a user touches the icon 7desired to be moved with the finger pad input 80. When the contact rangeis equivalent to or larger than the threshold value, the control unit 3determines that the input is the finger pad input 80 and sets the icon 7as a moving object (FIG. 7A). The user then shifts from the finger padinput 80 to the finger tip input 81 while keeping his or her finger incontact with the panel. As the contact range becomes equal to or lessthan the threshold value, the control unit 3 renders the icon 7 as themoving object movable (FIG. 7B). The user drags the icon 7 to a desiredposition and then shifts from the finger tip input 81 to the finger padinput 82. As the contact range becomes equivalent to or larger than thethreshold value, the control unit 3 determines that the input is thefinger pad input 82 and validates the position of the icon 7 (FIG. 7C).

As described above, the first embodiment allows the user to make moreintuitive input. The contact range described herein may be the number ofsensors responded or the maximum number of the columns of sensorsresponded. When an application for finger pad input with a wide contactarea is not set or applied to the terminal, the process of determiningcontact area can be omitted and contact operation may be performeduniformly.

[Second Embodiment]

A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a portableterminal 0 using a password. The second embodiment is characterized inthat it stores not only a numeric password but also a difference in thecontact range with the aim of enhancing security. A description is madefor an example of the enhanced security function that incorporates afour-digit password and a difference in the contact range with referenceto; FIG. 9 showing a flow chart of password registration, FIGS. 10A and10B showing typical screen images displayed during calibration, FIGS.11A to 11C showing screen images for prompting a user to register apassword, and FIGS. 12A and 12B showing data consisting of a passwordand a set of corresponding input method. The portable terminal 0according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that ofthe portable terminal 0 according to the first embodiment unlessotherwise specified.

The process for password registration will be first described withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 9. After initial settings such ascounter reset is done, an image as shown in FIG. 10A is displayed toprompt the user to make a finger tip contact (S2000). A control unit 3records the contact range of the finger tip input (S2001). Next, animage as shown in FIG. 10B is displayed to prompt the user to make afinger pad contact. The control unit 3 records the contact range of thefinger pad input (S2002). Contact ranges are detected at the timing whena button switch 5 is pushed following the contact with finger tip orfinger pad. When the contact range of the finger pad input is largerthan that of the finger tip input, the control unit 3 authorizes theinput as a correct input (S2003: Yes). The contact range of the fingertip input is determined as a threshold value and the value is stored(S2004). When the contact range of the finger pad input is smaller thanthat of the finger tip input (S2003: No), the control unit 3 prompts theuser to make a finger tip input again (S2001). Completing thedetermination of a threshold value, the control unit 3 next checks thecounter value. When the counter is 4 or less (S2005: No), the controlunit 3 displays a message to inform the user that a password can beinput by either the finger tip input or the finger pad input (FIG. 11A).Registration of the numbers is then authorized.

The user selects and touches any numbers among numbers 0 to 9 displayedon a touch panel 1 by either the finger tip input or the finger padinput. The selected numbers are registered as input numerals (S2006).Then, the control unit 3 compares the contact range with the thresholdvalue. When the contact range is equal to or smaller than the thresholdvalue (S2007: Yes), the control unit 3 stores the input numeral inassociation with the finger tip input (S2008). A message as shown inFIG. 11C is displayed to inform the user that the numeral has beenregistered by finger tip input. When the contact range is larger thanthe threshold value (S2007: No), the control unit 3 stores the inputnumeral in association with the finger pad input (S2009).

The control unit 3 displays a message as shown in FIG. 11B to inform theuser that the numeral has been registered by finger pad input. Thecontrol unit 3 then increments the counter and proceeds to the nextpassword input (S2010). When the counter is greater than 4 (S2005: Yes),a numeric string of four input numerals is registered as the password asshown in FIG. 12A. In addition, the input method of either the fingertip input or the finger pad input corresponding to the numeral is storedfor each input numeral. The password registration thus terminates(S2011).

A method for cancelling or unlocking the password will be next describedbelow with reference to FIG. 13 showing a flow chart of a passwordcancel process and FIG. 14 showing a password cancel screen.

As can be seen in FIG. 14, the control unit 3 displays a password cancelscreen including a ten-key pad with a plurality of numerals in order toprompt the user to input a numeral. At the same time, the control unit 3performs initial settings such as counter reset (S3000). The controlunit 3 waits until a user inputs a numeral (S3001). Upon the usertouching the touch panel 1, the control unit 3 specifies the numberaccording to a position of the contact. The contact range of the contactis compared with a threshold value to thereby determine whether theinput is a finger tip input or a finger pad input (S3002). The controlunit 3 stores the numeral input and the input method used (S3003). Whenthe number of the input and the password registered earlier matches,(S3004: Yes) and the input methods thereof matches as well (S3005: Yes),the control unit 3 increments the counter (S3006). When the counter isnot greater than 4 (S3007: No), the control unit 3 proceeds to the stepfor inputting the next password number. When the counter is greater than4 (S3007: Yes), the password is authenticated (S3008) and the lock iscanceled. Meanwhile, in cases where the number of input and a passworddo not match (S3004: No), or in cases where the number of input and apassword match but their input methods do not match (S3005: No), thecontrol unit 3 displays a message to inform the password or the inputmethod is wrong (S3009). The password cancellation thus terminates.

It is to be noted that a plurality of input methods may be registeredfor one password. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 12B, threetypes of input methods are registered for one password and a specificoperation is assigned for each of them: input method 1 is for displayinga normal standby screen, input method 2 is for displaying a mailcreating screen, and input method 3 is for starting an application. Auser can start a desired operation easily by way of unlocking thepassword, thus contributing to improved convenience. Not to mention, aplurality of input methods may be registered for a plurality ofpasswords as well.

Using the above system, a user can complicate cancellation of a lock bymaking a simple input to enhance security. The portable terminal 0 canthus handle user's highly confidential information, which makes theterminal more useful.

Security can be enhanced by only storing, in addition to the passwordregistered, the input method for each of the password numbers. Anincrease in storage capacity can be sufficiently suppressed.

From the view of a user, the user only needs to remember the inputmethod for each password number to unlock the portable terminal 0.Burdens on the user for memorization can thus be alleviated. It is alsoadvantageous in that when a user has to tell others the way to unlockthe portable terminal 0, the user only needs to tell the passwordnumbers and the input method for each of the password numbers.

Although the second embodiment employed a password composed of numeralsonly, the present invention is not limited to this. The password may becomposed of alphabets, symbols, figures, patterns, colors, or otherelements, or combinations thereof. In addition, the number of digits ofa password is not limited to four and the number may instead be one,two, or a greater numeral.

The process for password registration (FIG. 9) may be started when apredetermined condition is satisfied, such as when the user calls up aparticular function from a setting menu.

In the embodiment of the present invention, calibration is performed bya user touching a single point. However, the present invention is notlimited to this. For example, the calibration performed during unlockingas described for the first embodiment may be applied. The user may alsostart calibration by calling up a particular function from the settingmenu. Incidentally, during the password cancellation, the messageinforming the fact that the difference in contact ranges are detectedmay be not shown (hidden), and when only the numbers are correct, amessage may be displayed to inform that the difference in the contactrange is also registered. Numerals and input methods may also be hiddenand not shown during password input. While a threshold value is used fordistinguishing the finger tip input and the finger pad input in theembodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Thedetermination of an input method may be conducted in a manner such thatrecords both contact ranges of the finger tip input and the finger padinput, and when a input is made, compares the input contact range withthe data, whereby selecting the closer one as the method of theparticular input.

The operation of distinguishing the difference in the contact range maybe omitted in particular situations of input. For example, the systemmay be adapted so that the classification based on a difference incontact ranges is not performed when the button switch is pressed orwhen more than two points are touched for multi-touch input.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: atouch panel which displaies a plurality of pieces of identificationinformation and detecting a contact of the panel with an object ofinterest; a detection unit, when the touch panel detects a contact withthe object, which specifies identification information indicated by aposition at which the contact in question occurred, of the multiplepieces of identification information displayed on the panel, and whichdetects an area of part where the contact occurred; a storage unit whichstores reference identification information and a reference area range;a determination unit which determines whether the identificationinformation detected by the detection unit matches the referenceidentification information stored in the storage unit and whether thearea of the contact detected by the detection unit falls within thereference area range stored in the storage unit; and a control unitwhich performs particular processing on condition the determination unitdetermines that the identification information detected by the detectionunit matches the reference identification information stored in thestorage unit and the area of the contact detected by the detection unitfalls within the reference area range stored in the storage unit.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: thestorage unit stores, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, theidentification information and the area of the contact detected by thedetection unit as the reference identification information and thereference area range, respectively.
 3. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the storage unit storesfirst identification information and a first area range and secondidentification information and a second area range as the referenceidentification information and the reference area ranges; and thedetermination unit determines, on condition the identificationinformation detected by the detection unit matches the firstidentification information stored in the storage unit and the area ofthe contact detected by the detection unit falls within the first arearange stored in the storage unit, whether the identification informationdetected by the detection unit matches the second identificationinformation stored in the storage unit and the area of the contactdetected by the detecting unit falls within the second area range storedin the storing unit.
 4. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1 or 2, wherein: the storage unit stores a threshold value; andthe reference area range stored in the storage unit is defined based onthe threshold value.
 5. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein: the area of the contact detected by the detectionunit is registered as the threshold value when a predetermined conditionis satisfied.
 6. An information processing apparatus comprising: a touchpanel which displaies a plurality of pieces of identificationinformation and detecting a contact of the panel with an object ofinterest; a detection unit for, when the touch panel detects a contactof the panel with the object, which specifies identification informationindicated by a position at which the contact in question occurred, ofthe multiple pieces of identification information displayed on the touchpanel, and which detects an area of part where the contact occurred; astorage unit whish stores a series of identification information and aseries of area ranges, the series of area ranges each corresponding tothe respective identification information; and a control unit whichperforms particular processing on condition that a set of identificationinformation detected by the detection unit matches the series ofidentification information stored in the storage unit and a series ofcontact areas detected by the detection unit each falls within thecorresponding one of the series of area ranges stored in the storageunit.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,wherein: the storage unit stores a first set of area ranges and a secondset of area ranges as corresponding area ranges of the stored series ofidentification information; and first processing is performed oncondition that a set of identification information detected by thedetecting unit matches the series of identification information storedin the storage unit and the areas of the contact detected by thedetecting unit each falls within a corresponding one of the first set ofarea ranges stored in the storage unit, and second processing isperformed on condition that a set of identification information detectedby the detecting unit matches the series of identification informationstored in the storing unit and the areas of the contact detected by thedetecting unit each falls within a corresponding one of the second setof area ranges stored in the storage unit.